Many Ford executives used Twitter to vent their frustrations.
Ford’s next-generation F-150 Raptor was unveiled on February 3, 2021. Curiously, the official unveil didn’t include any details about performance, despite the F150 Raptor being an performance truck. The flurry of social-media activity following the debut was even more fascinating. But, the lesson from these conversations was clear. The Raptor will be launched with the EcoBoost V6, but there is a V8 version coming next year.
Multiple Ford source online via Twitter confirmed this news. Motor Authority also confirmed the news. Motor1.com reached back to Ford for more information, but this deal is done.
The tweets show that the Raptor R will be the more hard-core Raptor. Rumours have been flyingwide about the truck sporting a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine from the Mustang Shelby GT500. Predator V8 produces 760 horsepower, so if Ford wants to compete with the RAM TRX, then the Raptor will require such a power injection. A boosted version Ford’s pushrod V8 could also be an option. It could surprise the Blue Oval with its small size and high-power potential.
We know that the 2021 F-150 Raptor is an evolutionary leap over the previous model. Under the hood, the twin-turbocharged V6 is still there, packing at most 450 horsepower. However, with the TRX and Hellcat V8 standing tall, an additional power boost from Blue Oval seems both logical and necessary. The Raptor’s five-link suspension, which has been retuned to provide incredible travel, is perhaps the most important news.
Ford says the V8-powered Raptor R will be available in 2022, but we aren’t sure if this is a debut or on-sale date. As more Raptor R information becomes available, we’ll update this article.